Girls golf: Andrews gets silver lining out of season's best performance

AUSTIN Claiming silver medals as the second-best team of the UIL Class 3A Girls State Golf Championships didn't appear to be a bitter pill Friday afternoon for the Andrews Lady Mustangs.

Yes, Andrews had its two-year stranglehold on the Class 3A team championship come to an end.

But the Lady Mustangs matched their opening round 325 with the same score in the second round for a tournament total of 650 that was their best result of the season.

"I couldn't have been prouder of my teammates," senior Kaitlyn Gilbreath said. "I'm so, so proud of them. To be at state and shoot the best we have all year is a good accomplishment."

Quite often, the state tournament brings the worst out in players who are making their first appearance.

That wasn't the case for the four Andrews players who made their first appearance this weekend - Gilbreath, McKenzie Long, Savanna Stavinoha and Meagan Slatton.

The only returning member of last year's state championship team, senior Morgan Dockery, did struggle to her standards in the opening round.

However, she bounced back with a solid round of 75 in the second round after her 80 on the opening day for a 155 total that gave her a career best fifth-place state finish.

"I played aggressive and I never tried to baby anything and it worked," said Dockery, who has signed to play for McLennan Community College. "I did a lot better job than (the first round)."

Following Dockery was Long, a freshman who joined the senior as an all-state honoree by tying for eighth. Long shot 81 in the second round and finished at 161.

Gilbreath wasn't far behind with a second-round 84 that put her at 167 and Stavinoha shot a second consecutive 85 for a 170 total. Slatton struggled a bit with an 89 that wasn't used for team scoring but still finished at a solid 171 for the tournament.

"I think the girls leave here with no regrets," Andrews head coach Mark Burgen said. "I think they know we played about as good as we can play. I'm satisfied and I'm happy for them and proud of them. We had to work hard to get back to this spot. This is another good day for Andrews."